| Are you the parent of a child with Dyslexia, learning | | | | special education services (which is a denial of FAPE)! |
| disability, or autism that receives special education | | | | 3. Before a parent removes a child with a disability |
| services? Are you concerned that your child is not | | | | from a public program they are required to do the |
| learning? Have you considered placing your child in a | | | | following: |
| private school and asking for tuition reimbursement? | | | | A. At the most recent Individual Education Plan (IEP) |
| This article will discuss 3 needed requirements for | | | | meeting parents must state their concerns and |
| parents to ask for reimbursement for a private special | | | | reasons why the proposed IEP denies their child FAPE |
| education placement. | | | | and their intention to place the child in a private school |
| The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) | | | | and seek tuition reimbursement from the public school |
| allows parents to seek reimbursement for private | | | | OR |
| school tuition, but only if certain requirements are | | | | B. 10 business days before you take your child out of |
| followed by the parents. The section of IDEA that | | | | the public school program a letter needs to be written |
| covers tuition reimbursement was not changed in 2004 | | | | which contains the following: Specific concerns in detail |
| when it was reauthorized. | | | | about why the proposed IEP denies your child FAPE, |
| The requirements are: | | | | your reasons for rejecting the proposed IEP, why your |
| 1. The school must have been found by a hearing | | | | child will be harmed or damaged if put in the school |
| officer or court to have denied your child a Free | | | | districts proposed program, and a statement of your |
| Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)! If a hearing | | | | intent to enroll your child in a private program at public |
| officer or court finds that your child was not denied | | | | expense (tuition reimbursement)! |
| FAPE then the school district is not responsible for | | | | If you are a parent considering this course of action I |
| reimbursing private school tuition. | | | | would notify the school district at an IEP meeting and |
| 2. The private school must be appropriate to meet the | | | | write a letter; this way they cannot say that they were |
| child's educational needs. | | | | not notified. Hearing Officers and Courts can reduce |
| Tuition reimbursement is not only for those children that | | | | reimbursement if these rules are not followed. Also |
| have previously been in public school. A recent US | | | | take the time to research your states policies and |
| Supreme Court ruling also allows reimbursement if a | | | | procedures for tuition reimbursement and Case law on |
| child with a disability has been in private school (but | | | | the subject! Good luck in your fight for a free |
| public school must deny FAPE), and if a child has been | | | | appropriate public education for your child! |
| found not to have a disability and denied eligibility for | | | | |